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(No Model.) R. MOLYNEUX.

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 319,920. Patented June 9, 1885.

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UNITED STATES PATENT QEErcE.

ROBERT MOLYNEUX, OF RANSOMVILLE, NEW YORK.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

v SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,920, dated June 9, 1885.

Application filed October 23, 1884.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT MOLYNEUX, of Ransomville, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of fire-escapes which consist of a rope or cable having a suitable hook or other attachment at its end, and provided along its length with handles or projections which are arranged at suitable distances apart, whereby persons are enabled to descend the rope, when the latter is suspended from an upper window, to the ground. The rope when not in use is wound upon a suitable reel and kept in a convenient place in the building.

The object of my invention is to provide the rope or cable with projections or handles which cannot be destroyed by fire, and which can be easily and quickly applied, and constructed at comparatively small expense.

My invention consists of the improvements which will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurelrepresents a sectional elevation of my improved fire-escape. Fig. 2 represents a vertical longitudinal section of one of the handles orpro Fig. 3 is a cross-section in line at m, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-section showing a modified construction of the means whereby the handles are secured to the rope. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the fire-escape incased.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the reel, and B the rope or cable wound upon the same, and secured with its inner end to an eye formed on the hub of the reel. The opposite end of the rope is provided with a hook, 1), whereby it can be secured to an eye or other support in the building. The hook b is preferably provided with a spring, 12, to prevent the hook from being accidentally detached from its support.

0 represents the projections or handles secured to the rope at suitable distances apart, and adapted to be grasped by the person descending the rope. These projections consist of a cylindrical metallic casing or box, d, having a bottom, d, which is provided with an opening whereby the casing is inserted over the rope B.

. 6 represents a block of wood or other suitable material, which is provided with a cen- (No model.)

tral opening, whereby it is passed over the rope B, and which rests against the bottom of the casing d, and is held therein by a pin or bar, e, which is inserted between the strands of the rope. f represents a similar block, which is inserted over the rope and rests against the pin 6, and (Z is a screw-cap through which the rope passes, and which is applied to the open end of the casing cl, whereby the block f is retained in the casing and held against the pin 0.

If desired, the blocks 6 andf may be made in one piece and the pin 6 inserted through an opening formed in the block.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 4 the projections G are secured to the rope by a three-armed bar, 6, each arm being arranged between two strands of the rope. I prefer this construction, as it presents a greater bearing-surface to the blocks 6 and f and forms a stronger fastening. By this construction the handles are rendered fire-proof, as the wooden blocks are entirely covered by the metallic casing d. v The rope B is preferably provided below the bottom of the handles 0 with several coils of thin wire, which are coiled tightly around the rope or cable and prevent the strands of the rope from untwisting or spreading apart.

A suitable casing, G, may be inserted over the reel A, and the casing provided with a suitable handle, 9, whereby it can be carried about.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the rope or cable B, of a series of handles or projections, (J, secured to the rope or cable at suitable distances apart, and each composed of a block of wood or other suitable material secured to said rope or cable, and a metal casing, d, inclosing said block and provided with a screw-cap, (1 substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the rope or cable B, of the projections G, composed of a metallic casing, cl, inserted over the rope, blocks 6 f, arranged in said casing, a pin or bar secured to the rope B, and arranged between the blocks ef, and screw-cap d applied to the open end of the casing d, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 26th day of September, 1884.

ROBT. MOLYNEUX.

Witnesses:

CARL F. GEYER, .1110. J. BONNER. 

